The sustainability story is as big as Wal-Mart and as a local as a neighborhood coffee shop. So, where do you begin? Use this basics package as a guide for covering sustainability topics.
With Memorial Day weekend comes the unofficial start of summer; what better time than to look for some fresh angles on seasonal businesses?
And I think in keeping with recent years’ themes of frugality, staycations and scaled-back leisure budgets, spinning summer angles from the iconic “camping” theme will lead to colorful and substantive business and economy packages.
Many people kick themselves for failing to implement that one great “woulda, coulda, shoulda,” idea — and I’m one of them. Back when the Internet was first becoming mainstream, I wanted to create an online directory of yard sales and garage sales, complete with a mapping function and e-mail alerts. Floating the idea among friends and [...]
Earlier this spring a local web developer made a surprising observation: The owner of a commercial cleaning business had strolled in and asked for a completely revamped website to better reflect his booming business. Yes, booming. That was an eyebrow-raiser, and a week or so later I read a feature story about an East Coast businessman [...]
Sunday is Earth Day 2012, and while the four-decades old observance isn’t getting the attention it did on its 40th birthday in 2010, it’s still a decent news peg for a green business, finance or consumer piece. The theme of this year’s Earth Day is “Mobilize the Earth,” and social media campaigns will play a [...]
With the national unemployment rate about to get an update Friday, along with a critical mass of other jobs reports coming out earlier, it’s probably a good idea to circle around to the employment market at some point this week. One new report that doesn’t seem to have been widely covered is the ‘green jobs’ [...]
Business has its own language. So, too, does sustainability. Navigating through the specialized maze of carbon and sustainability terms can be confounding. Anytime your subject uses a specialized term, ask for a definition. Here are a few terms to get you started: Corporate social responsibility (CSR): In 2010, the International Organization for Standardization released the [...]
To get started on the road to reporting on business sustainability, address the reporting challenges of this beat by getting to know your subject. These resources here will help you get grounded in the basics. BSR: BSR develops sustainable business solutions with consulting, research, and collaborations with other sectors. The site offers a wealth of [...]
Reporting requires more than opening your ears. Errors can occur when business claims go unchecked. Because local business and corporations recognize that sustainability factors into business decisions, pay attention to the environmental and social issues that can benefit – or put at risk – their performance and brand reputations. Additionally, few standards exist for products [...]
Looking to advance the story on sustainability in your own backyard? Get a handle on the big issues and bring them down to the local level. In so doing, you’ll bring some meaning to your readers and better explain the larger concerns. Get started with these simple steps. Watch the water factor. While water is [...]
